What does Psalm 124:6 mean?
This psalm began by declaring how Israel would have fallen to its enemies were it not for God's intervention (Psalm 124:1–2). There, the psalmist included a reference to being "swallowed" (Psalm 124:3), before comparing Israel's enemies to a massive flood (Psalm 124:4–5). Here, the song praises the Lord for what He has done. His work has prevented the nation from being torn like the victim of a ferocious predator.Just as overwhelming force is often compared to a flood (Isaiah 8:7–8; Jeremiah 46:7–8), aggressive enemies are sometimes compared to predatory animals. Jeremiah made this association with Babylon (Jeremiah 4:7; 51:38). The apostle Peter did the same with Satan, warning Christians about the Devil's attempts to overwhelm believers (1 Peter 5:8). Just as ancient Israel had to rely on the Lord for survival, so too must Christians use God's power against Satan. This means resisting evil "in" faith (1 Peter 5:9) and using the tools God has provided for our protection (Ephesians 6:11–18). The strength of the Lord is much greater than that of the Devil (1 John 4:4). One day, God will banish the evil one to the lake of fire (Revelation 20:7–10).
Psalm 124:6–8 praises the Lord for victory over angry, vicious enemies. Earlier verses celebrated God's intervention which kept Israel from being destroyed by many enemies (Psalm 124:1–5). The psalm began by noting what would have happened to the nation without God. At the end, the psalmist indicates what happened because of the Lord's actions.
The psalmist emphasizes that enemies would have overwhelmed Israel were it not for the Lord's intervention (Deuteronomy 4:37–38). The power of hostile nations is compared to a massive flood. Yet God prevented Israel from suffering that fate. Because of this, Israel should recognize that their ultimate source of strength is their Lord, the Creator of all things.
